Contemporary Commercial Music
- Bachelor of Music
The Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) degree at USF focuses on innovative courses that combine academic experience with real-world application to help students achieve their goals. Our cutting-edge facilities and faculty that combine academic scholarship with real-world industry experience within a large research university make USF a unique and valuable choice for students.
Our campus is located in the vibrant and growing city of Tampa offers students valuable diversity and cultural benefits with access to many facets of the entertainment industry. Hands-on, experiential learning opportunities provide them with unique insight into the music business, audio engineering, entertainment, and songwriting. The CCM degree program has something that will speak to your preferred musical style and performance interests.
The CCM Area faculty consists of dedicated faculty members who actively record and perform in the Tampa Bay region. They have a presence nationally in music conferences, professional organizations, chamber settings, popular music ensembles, and as music producers and solo artists. We believe in the power of networking and relationship building and go above and beyond to make sure that each of our students has the tools to be successful in all of their future pursuits.
Our students and faculty make frequent appearances in local media (Fox News and Bay News 9), and in national music-making events such as and . CCM students have performed for schools in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, and Miami-Dade counties. They are often called upon when musicians are needed within the USF and greater Tampa Bay communities. USF CCM students have been nominated for numerous songwriting awards, including Unsigned Only, American Songwriter, USA Songwriting Competition, and John Lennon/BMI competition.
CCM students at USF can expect to perform and record with professionals from across the country. Each student will learn and grow within weekly studio classes that center on their preferred musical styles. We are dedicated to helping each student explore their passions and find their way into professional positions that will leverage their skills and talents.
Hands-on, experiential learning opportunities provide them with unique insight into the music business, audio engineering, entertainment, and songwriting. Students in the CCM degree take courses in USF’s prestigious Muma College of Business and work closely with students in the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications. The CCM degree program has something that will speak to your preferred musical style and performance interests.
THE B.M. PROGRAM
The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Contemporary Commercial Music is a professional degree for students who are interested in a career in some area of the music industry. This program is an intense study and practice of music making in contemporary genres based on student choice and interest. In addition to private study on their principle instrument and participation in ensembles, students complete music theory, history and literature sequences, and take a variety of elective music courses. Our degree program challenges and prepares future professional musicians to both embrace the traditions of contemporary music, but also to reach into the future a bit by creating their own original music. The program progresses towards a semester-long internship in some area of the music industry and can also include a study abroad experience in a location of their choosing. Admission into the program requires an audition on your major instrument as well as a faculty interview.
contemporary commercial music faculty
Kenrick Wagner, Director of Contemporary Commercial Music Program | kenrick1@usf.edu
Clint Randles, Director of Contemporary Commercial Music Ensembles | randlesc@usf.edu
Allyssa Jones, Director of Vocal Ensembles and Assistant Instructor of Contemporary Commercial Music | allyssaj@usf.edu
Emmanuel Kaghondi, Visiting Professor of Contemporary Commercial Music | kaghondi@usf.edu
Jonathan Godfrey, Adjunct Professor, Guitar (Classical, Commercial) | jonathangodfrey@usf.edu
Mark Neuenschwander, Electric Bass | neuensch@usf.edu
Pablo Arencibia, Piano | pablo6@usf.edu